Sexual Harassment Scandals That Rocked Hollywood

Bill O’Reilly

The Fox News host’s 21-year run finally came to an end on April 19, after weeks of controversy stemming from a New York Times report.

The outlet reported that five women had received payments, totaling about $13 million, over the past 15 years in exchange for agreeing not to pursue legal action or speak about accusations related to sexual harassment. O’Reilly denied the allegations, claiming that his star status made him a “target” for such claims.

As controversy mounted, dozens of companies pulled their ads from his popular Fox News program “The O’Reilly Factor.” After O’Reilly took a brief vacation, which he said was pre-planned, Fox News parent company 21st Century Fox finally announced that he’s been ousted.

AP

Donald Trump

Ahead of the election, now-President Trump’s most famous case of sexual misconduct may have been that infamous leaked “Access Hollywood” tape. In it, he bragged to Billy Bush that when you’re a star, “you can do anything… grab them by the pussy.”

However, Trump has faced sexual assault and harassment charges long before his run for president. At least 15 women have accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment since the ’80s, with three women filing lawsuits, which were eventually withdrawn or settled. In addition, one former “The Apprentice” contestant, Summer Zervos, claimed that Trump groped her in 2007, and filed a defamation lawsuit against him after he released a statement that denied her claims.

The misconduct allegations, in addition to the “Access Hollywood” tape, spurred a slew of protests, including the large Women’s March that took place the week of the general election.

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Roger Ailes

The former Fox News Channel chief stepped down in July 2016 after a series of sexual harassment allegations were leveled against him.

Leading the charge was former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who filed a lawsuit against the executive and prompted an internal review by 21st Century Fox. Carlson claimed that she was fired after rejecting Ailes’ sexual advances. One of Fox News’ biggest stars, Megyn Kelly (who has since left the outlet), wrote in her book “Settle For More” that Ailes offered to advance her career “in exchange for sexual favors.”

Other women who have accused Ailes of sexual harassment include Laurie Luhn, Andrea Tantaros, and Kelli Boyle, among others.

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

Casey Affleck

After “Manchester by the Sea” debuted at Sundance, Casey Affleck seemed the actor to beat at the Oscars. However, when sexual harassment allegations from seven years ago resurfaced, it quickly turned much of the public and industry against him.

Two women who worked on his film “I’m Still Here” filed sexual harassment lawsuits against him in 2010. One woman accused him of crawling into her bed without her consent while she was asleep, while the other woman said Affleck pressured her to stay in his hotel room and “violently” grabbed her arm when she refused. Both claims were settled out of court for an undisclosed amount in 2010. Affleck has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Despite being surrounded by controversy, including a passionate Twitter rant from “Fresh Off the Boat” star Constance Wu, Affleck still won best actor at the 2017 Oscars. The Academy has been criticized for the decision.

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Chris Berman

It was reported in 2015 that longtime ESPN host Chris Berman was the subject of a sexual harassment claim against the network.

The claim came from makeup artists Sue Baumann, who alleged that Berman made inappropriate comments toward her as well as sending her unseemly texts in 2011. The claim was settled, though according to ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz, “Our thorough investigation revealed the harassment claims had no merit. We settled it solely to save a considerable amount of time and litigation costs.”

Michael-Chiarello

Harold Reynolds

ESPN fired the baseball analyst and former MLB second baseman in 2006 after a female employee accused him of sexual harassment. Reynolds, however, later told the New York Post that the situation was “a total misunderstanding.” “I gave a woman a hug and I felt like it was misinterpreted,” he said at the time.

He later hit ESPN with a $5 million wrongful termination lawsuit, claiming that his actions were misrepresented and, in court papers, that his firing was “affected by racial bias.” Reynolds and ESPN settled the lawsuit in 2008 — the details of the agreement were not released.

Courtesy of MLB Network

Mike Tirico

According to Michael Freeman’s “ESPN: The Uncensored History,” during the “boys club” days of the network in the ’90s, rising star Mike Tirico became quite unpopular with the women on staff.

In 1992, Tirico allegedly approached a female production assistant at a party and told her she was the most beautiful woman there. After being ignored, Tirico apparently followed her around the party until he was told to “f— off” and the woman left. Tirico reportedly appeared in front of the woman’s car as she was leaving. When she rolled down her window, Tirico allegedly “reached into the car and tried to put his hands between her thighs.”

It wasn’t the only incident between Tirico and women at ESPN. The book claims six women eventually came forward and Tirico was suspended for three months.

Martin Lawrence

Tisha Campbell, who played Lawrence’s TV wife on Fox’s “Martin,” left the show in 1997 after claiming Lawrence sexually harassed her.

She additionally sued Lawrence, as well as the show’s producers. In the suit, she claimed conditions on the set were “intolerable,” and that the environment was too tense and volatile for her to continue working there. She also alleged that Lawrence groped her and simulated intercourse in front of cast and crew members.

Lawrence has denied Campbell’s charges. After the legal trouble, in early 1997, Fox officially dropped “Martin.”